Maceo Parker „Roots Revisited“ live in Bremen 1990

Maceo Parker, Alto Saxophone
Pee Wee Ellis, Tenor Saxophone
Fred Wesley, Trombone
Larry Goldings, Hammond B3
Rodney Jones, Guitar
Bill Stewart, Drums

recorded live at Modernes, Bremen, November 7, 1990

1. McGriff’s Blues (Rodney Jones)
2. For The Elders    (Fred Wesley)
3. Up And Down East Street (Maceo Parker)
4. Let’s Go Funky (a.k.a. Southwick) (Maceo Parker)

5. Peace Fuge (Fred Wesley)

Maceo Parker is a funk monster. He started his career playing saxophone for James Brown. He left the Godfather of Soul to join none other than George Clinton and the legendary Parliament, before going back with James Brown and later on Bootsy Collin’s own band. His own website pretty clearly states that there would be no funk music without Maceo Parker-that might be a little much, but he did help out a lot. Yet in 1990, Maceo Parker decided to put aside his funky nature (well on some tracks) in exchange for some old fashioned jazz and soul music for his now legendary album "Roots Revisited". The mixture of all three is very entertaining.
This CD gave him a chance to stretch out as a leader, and his soulful horn immediately brings to mind Hank Crawford and (to a lesser extent) Lou Donaldson. With a strong backup group that includes Pee Wee Ellis on tenor, trombonist Fred Wesley, and Don Pullen on organ, Parker enthusiastically plays over infectious grooves with just one funky departure ("In Time"). Roots Revisited is a throwback to the 1960s soul-jazz style and Maceo Parker gives one the impression that, if called upon, he could hold his own on a bebop date.

The second Roots installment, "Mo' Roots" was cut minus Pullen and Collins, leaning a little more toward the instrumental soul side. Three fine originals in conjunction with covers of Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Horace Silver, and Lionel Hampton.

Pee Wee Ellis & The Mahotella Queens live at Music Hall, Worpswede 2010

Pee Wee Ellis, tenor saxophone, vocals
Fred Ross - vocals
Ty - rap
Raymond Doumbe - Bass


Tony Remy - Guitar

Peter Madsen - Keys

Mamadou Sarr - Percussion


Guido May - Drums


James Morton - Alto Sax


Josh Arcoleo - Sax
Guests: The Mahotella Queens
Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu and Mildred Mangxola, vocals

recorded live at Music Hall, Worpswede, May 15, 2010

1. Soul Pride (James Brown)

2. No Discrimination (Tony Allen)

3. The Chicken (Alfred “Pee Wee” Ellis)

4. Din Don Dan (Alfred “Pee Wee” Ellis, Cheikh Lô, Guido May)

5. I Got The Feeling (James Brown)

6. Umuntu (Simon Nkabinde)

7. Please, please, please (James Brown, Johnny Terry)

8. Make It Funky (James Brown)

9. Pass The Peas (James Brown)

10. Cold Sweat (James Brown, Alfred “Pee Wee” Ellis)
11. Say It Loud, I’m Black And Proud (James Brown)

12. I Got You (I Feel Good) (James Brown)

Pee Wee Ellis and a host of African superstars are
 bringing music full circle with an innovative project called Still Black, Still Proud.
Pee Wee Ellis has been described as "The Man Who Invented Funk" for
 his work with James Brown, bringing R&B into the era of Funk, starting
 with Pee Wee's seminal 1967 song, Cold Sweat – arguably the first pure
 modern Funk song – and 25 more James Brown hits. It started a revolution in music.
Funk was the renewal of the African in African-American music, making
J ames Brown's music immensely popular, deeply felt and vastly
 influential in Africa.
So it only makes sense that Africa now comes to James Brown, with a host of African stars joining with Pee Wee Ellis in a rhythm-fueled tribute 
to the worldwide circle that Funk has become.